Friday, February 01, 2008
The message below is a letter sent to all members of Half the Sky asking for help. The blog entry is long but we ask that you take the time to read it and help all of the children in China if you can.
Thank you Melissa and Patrick
Hi,this one really hit home. In all likelihood, most of our daughters-to- be (INCLUDING Lily) are experiencing something pretty horrific right now. Please read, and if your financial situation allows, help:
Welfare institutions in south and central China are having the hardest time dealing with the weather disaster. This part of the country is simply not equipped to deal with extreme cold or heavy snow and ice.The most common critical problems are power outages, lack of safe drinking and cooking water, lack of fuel, diapers and public transportation. In many places where buses have stopped running, our Half the Sky nannies havebeen walking hours (in one case, 4 hours) along icy roads to get to the children. As conditions worsen, our nannies and teachers are remaining at the institutions day and night. They have given up the idea of going home to their own families for the holidays. They need quilts. They need warmclothing. They need coal, water, disposable diapers and food.Here are the reports I have thus far, while in-flight. I will send more soon. Where you don't see a report, either all is well or I don't yet have information. I will tell you when we've heard from everyone.We'vealso given all the directors an emergency number to call when/if the situation changes.
Hunan Province –Chenzhou has had no electricity or water for six days. They are relying on coal for heat and cooking. The supermarkets and banks are closed. Staff is using personal money for baby food, diapers, coal and water. Costs are rising due to shortages. They have a natural well which,thankfully, is not frozen. Even the older children are helping to fetch water. They have perhaps six days of food remaining. The local government is overwhelmed by the disaster and is unable to help much.Shaoyang has seen heavy snow every day for 20 days. There is sufficient water and, for the moment, there is power, so the children are warm. However, 5 of 6 power poles have been downed by weather. Only one stands and the institution fears it will fall as well, leaving them without electricity. Much of the rest of the city is already dark. Children and caregivers continue to work and play together. High school students are cramming for exams and trying to ignore the cold. Everyone prays that thepower pole will continue to stand.
Yueyang also has no electricity. The one functioning power generator isbeing used in the children's dormitory. They are relying on coal heat but the price has tripled in recent days. They are running out of food and have applied to the local Bureau of Civil Affairs for funds to buy more. Our HTS nannies have been walking for hours to get to work, often slipping on the ice, "even though they try to be cautious."
Xiangtan has had snow for the past 10 days. The main water pipe is"broken again." There is no water for cooking right now but they do have electricity, coal and blankets. They are still able to buy food butprices have gone way up. Not all of the HTS nannies can get to work every day. They are keeping the programs going as well as they can and makesure that at least five nurturing nannies are there with the babies everyday, along with the institution' s caregivers.
Jiangsu Province –Changzhou has seen some heavy snows but the director reports that the children are fine. The director says that he's doing his best to ensure that the children do not suffer. Public transportation is crippled by the snow and HTS nannies and teachers are waiting for hours to catch a bus for home or even walking home in the snowy dark.
Nanjing reports no problems at all despite the heavy snows. I tried tof ly into Nanjing yesterday but it was not possible.
Anhui Province -Chuzhou has both water and power. Only public transportation has failed.HTS nannies and teachers are walking to work. They are leaving home extra early to be there for the children.
Guangxi Province –Guilin has two broken HTS heater/air conditioners in the Infant Nurture rooms and they've asked us to replace. The rooms are very, very cold.They ask for more soft matting for the floors and also snow boots for ourHTS nannies who've been slipping and falling in the ice and snow as they come to work. They are so ill-equipped to handle severe weather.
Jiangxi Province –Fuzhou lost power for a few days but now it is back to normal. The snowstopped a couple of days ago but now is falling again. The directors and HTS staff have gathered all the children into one big room to keep them warm. They've bought New Years clothes for the children and will have a party no matter how bad the weather. This year, however, the foster parents will stay home to keep the children safe. The institution has enough food and water. They want us to focus on those in more serious trouble and ask us please not to worry.
Jiujiang says they've never faced such bitter weather. They desperately need disposable diapers. Washable diapers cannot be dried. They need warm clothes, shoes, gloves hats quilts and warm mats for the floors.They need medicine for infant coughs and colds. There is no water for bathing. The local community has offered totake children in for the Chinese New Year and the institution feels this may be the best decision to keep them safe.
Huangshi reports that the freeze is so severe that all heater/airconditioners have stopped functioning. They need quilts and warm clothesfor the children. They need disposable diapers. Several HTS nannies have fallen on the ice on their way to work and they need medicine to treat cuts and bruises.
Gathering these reports together makes me think about how careful we have always been at Half the Sky to maintain our focus on nurture and education programs. Ours is not a medical or relief organization. There are many wonderful groups who do that work. Probably the primary reason we've been able to accomplish so much and reach so many children is because we've maintained our focus on our core mission -- providing nurturing care forc hildren who've lost their families..But a moment like this really cannot be ignored. The tragedy of HurricaneKatrina in the US taught us that no matter how wealthy a country mightbe,its vulnerable citizens (old, poor, ill, and orphaned children) are the ones who suffer most when disaster strikes. Even as China seems to be entering the first world, a disaster like this is quite simply crippling.We know that orphaned children will be among those who suffer the damage most. I say this because I think we should break one of Half the Sky's rules and, if there are sufficient funds raised in the Little MouseEmergencyFund, we should offer relief (water, food, diapers, quilts, clothing)toany orphanage where children need help. Let's see how this goes.
If people are as generous as I think they might be, we will work with the provincial Bureaus of Civil Affairs in every hard-hit community, and offer assistance to all welfare institutions where there is need.Please lend a hand, however you can. You can donate to the LittleMouseEmergency Fund by calling us in the US at +;1-510-525-3377 or in Asiaat+852- 2520-5266 or by visiting us at
http://www.halfthesky.org. Once there, you can click on
"Donate Now"or go to http://www.halfthes ky.org/help/ docs/usdonation- orderform. pdftodownload a form to mail or fax. Donations are tax-deductible in US,Canada and Hong Kong.Please forward this message and tell your friends and familyI will be back with an update very, very soon.
Thank you!JennyJenny BowenExecutive DirectorHalf the Sky Foundationwww.halfthesky.org
